"It seems humanity is united in its humdrum obsession " Caroline Williams reported in the Oct Australian New Scientist Magazine (2015). According to Ms Williams, Russel Hurlburt of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has sampled individual trains of thought since the 1970's. To date he has discovered very few "big" thoughts as a result of his sampling studies, which consisted of beeping people six times a day to write down their thoughts. The outcome of his research suggests there are five basic modes of thinking.

INNER SPEAKINGHearing words in your own voice.

INNER SEEINGSeeing a visual image in your mind's eye

FEELINGAny strong emotion

SENSORY AWARENESSA sensory signal that overwhelms all else. Can be imagined e.g. thinking of something soft

UNSYMBOLIZED THINKINGA concept unattached to any mental words or images.